DepEd provides guidelines in employing Learning Support aides

The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued the guidelines on Learning Support Aides (LSAs) for this school year. It is to help and guide the department offices, schools and other stakeholders in choosing, recruiting and engagement of para-teachers or teaching assistants.

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DepEd Order No. 32, Series of 2020 was issued by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, also called the “Guidelines on the Engagement of Services of Learning Support Aides to Reinforce the Implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic” to guide the selection and recruitment of LSAs in all public elementary and secondary schools, including senior high schools,  this school year (SY) 2020-2021.

The mechanisms, procedures, and standards stipulated in this policy shall guide all DepEd offices and schools, as well as other stakeholders in the recruitment, selection, and engagement of Learning Support Aides in all public elementary and secondary schools, including senior high schools, in school year 2020-2021,

Briones said.

The department decided to continue learning this school year despite the presence of coronavirus, it came up with Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) in which multiple learning delivery modalities are employed since face-to-face classes are not allowed.

The implementation of the BE-LCP demands for a holistic approach and a stronger partnership among schools, households, and communities,

DepEd said. 

As its teachers and other personnel tackle additional tasks, challenges, and new expectation in the new normal, DepEd said that the BE-LCP

necessitates the complementary and broader roles of parents, guardians, and other household partners, and members of the community to support learning process of the students at home.

The department understand that some household can't focus on teaching their children because both parents have full-time job or no other adult are available to support and facilitate the learning and more. With this, DepEd noted that there is a need for an additional human resource addressing the need of students, including those with disabilities and special needs.